2001 FBL vs. Ohio State -- quotes
11/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
On the game ... "Obviously we're extremely disappointed in the outcome and the way we played in the first half. We have no excuses. Give Ohio State credit, they did what they had to do. We had turnovers in the first half and we didn't make plays in the second half."
On the safety in the first half ... "I think he (quarterback Jermaine Gonzales) took his eyes off the ball. Of course, anytime you're giving up points, it's not positive."
On the interceptions ... "Offensively, we had a good safe pass on third down on a tight end delay against a zone coverage and John (Navarre) threw the ball a little too high. Next thing you know your defense is down on the two-yard line. In the first half we did nothing except turn the ball over. In the second half we got down there a few times but we dropped a touchdown pass and gave up some points. They fought back hard and I like the way we responded in the second half. You can't turn the ball over five times and beat anybody, especially a good football team."
On the missed touchdown in the third quarter ... "A major turning point. We got exactly what we wanted and Marquise (Walker) was open and John (Navarre) threw a perfect pass. That was an opportunity to get back into the game and we were going to have the wind in the fourth quarter. When you put yourself in that position, you can't make any mistakes. There's a small margin for error when you're down 23-0 at the half."
On the missed opportunities ... "I thought we had a couple of plays. The fourth and one that went 40-some yards for a touchdown -- you should never have that. They played well in the second half but some of that has to do with Ohio State playing conservatively in the second half."
On John Navarre's interceptions ... "The first one was us. I thought the ball was thrown too hard. On underneath passes, the worst thing you can do is throw it too hard. But I have to look at the film. He made some plays in the second half. I don't know that it's confidence, and it may be, he made some bad decisions. When you're young and you make bad decisions, you press. He fought and he didn't quit. You don't always play as well as you want but the main thing is to continue to fight and play the best that you can."
On not accomplishing the team goals ... "The Big Ten championship was right there and we were playing for it. Anytime you lose to anybody, of course this game with Ohio State and Michigan, it adds to the disappointment. "
On turning points in the second half ... "I explained what we needed to do to get back into the game. We got down there and ran the football pretty effectively. Then we dropped a touchdown pass and missed a field goal. The blocked punt was a tremendous play, but then we turned the ball over again. Marquise (Walker) beat the corner but the ball was thrown too late and too deep."
On not running the ball well in the game ... "In the last five games we've had trouble running the football against big, strong defenses. When you can't run effectively, it puts pressure on the passing game. When you have a lot of third and longs and have to throw, those are situations where the defense has the advantage."
On playing well with a young team ... "Our goal, regardless, was to win the Big Ten championship. I don't look at it that way. We're extremely disappointed because we had an opportunity to win and we didn't play our best game. We had a tremendous week of practice and were excited to play. Anytime you turn the ball over, that takes the crowd out of the game. We wanted to take the lead, but instead we started out poorly and it only got worse in the first half."
Senior Tight End Shawn Thompson
On the team's offensive performance ... "Offensively we know we've been struggling. We knew what had to be done and we didn't do what we wanted to do. That's your goal every game. You want everything clicking in all aspects of the game. In the game of football, different areas will pick you up. We wanted to come out and have everything click."
On the loss ... "I think it's a combination of everything. We came into this game knowing what was at stake and we just didn't come out with a victory."
Senior Linebacker Larry Foote
Are you disappointed you didn't reach your team goals ... "Yes. This was a young team that not many people believed in. This loss hurts but the season is not over. We still have a bowl game left. I learned a lot from this season -- how to win, how to deal with difficult losses and to never give up. I am so glad that I played at Michigan and will cherish the learning experience."
Do you think Michigan lacked OSU's intensity from the start ... "No. We were fired up heading into the game and just kept fighting. They got up early and hurt us a few times during the first half but that was all. There is no quit in this football team and it showed today. I am proud of the fight in this team."
On quarterback John Navarre ... "John Navarre is a great player. I gave him a big hug after this game. He is only a sophomore and is going to get better each and every day. He is going to be a great quarterback."
Junior/Sophomore Quarterback John Navarre
On the team's fight and reversal in the second half ... "Ohio State did some different things in the first half and we made some adjustments to start the second half. You saw how things went. We just can't turn the ball over."
On the intensity of his first Michigan-Ohio State game ... "There is a certain intensity in a big game and as a quarterback you have to control those emotions. I eventually calmed down but that's not the big deal here. Sometimes it's a matter of where the ball bounces and it didn't go my way today."
Have you lost any confidence ... "No. I haven't lost confidence in myself. I have confidence in the team and sometimes that is the way things work. You can't lose confidence in yourself or it will affect your play or team."
Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel
On the game ... "I'm so proud of these kids. They played hard ... offensively, defensively, special teams, the coaches had these kids ready. It is so tough to win on the road, I can't say enough about this team today. I didn't promise this win, I promised that you would be proud of us. I think whether we won this game or not our kids played, you would have been proud of us. But it is even sweeter when you come away with a win over a good team like Michigan. We've been trying all year to do what we think we need to do to win ballgames. We had some guys banged up and lacked some experience in some cases, but other guys stepped up and got things done. The one thing we didn't want to do was to give them anything. I knew our defense was going to play tough. We just wanted our offense to convert."
On winning with a backup quarterback ... "We've got a lot of guys who have worked hard. We've got a lot of guys that have hung together and hung tough. As I told them many times, transition isn't always easy and I think they have handled it well."
On the fourth-and-one call that led to a score ... "It was a basic off-tackle play. I think you have to go with what you know how to do in a crucial situation. It was just off-tackle."
On beating Michigan ... "Our kids played hard today as they have played hard all year long. The one thing I haven't said after a ballgame is 'I was disappointed in our effort.' We did the things we needed to do today to win and it just happened to be against Michigan."
Senior Tailback Jonathan Wells
On carrying the team today ... "I just wanted to come out and play the best football I could play. I felt like I was getting better every game this year. Our offensive line came together and gave me creases, and when I get creases I can punish people or run around them. I give credit in the offensive line and my confidence grew with every carry and I just wanted to go out there and help my team."
On having to leave the game with cramps ... "It was disappointing for me, but my main concern was getting this victory. I talked to Lydell Ross on the sideline and I told him that he was going to have to step in and make some plays. He went out there and did a good job of running the ball hard. It was tough for me to watch on the sideline, but we had to get this victory."
On the fourh-and-one play ... "It was a great offensive line play. It was a great call by the coaching staff, because our offensive line was strong on that side all through the first half. I just got a crease in there from the offensive line and I got to the [defensive backs] untouched."
Junior Strong Safety Mike Doss
On Ohio State's defense ... "Everybody contributed. We came out hard and the coaches had a good game plan for us. He just said to execute and that's what we did today. We went out there and executed our defense and slowed down their offense. Their quarterback had to make a lot of decisions out there."
On the front four's pressure ... "They did a great job. Every play I kept seeing hands up, or jumping up to knock a pass down or trying to get into the quarterback's throwing lane. They played hard and went after the ball every play. All 11 guys played together with 110 percent. That is what we had to do to come away with a victory."
On the intensity in the fourth quarter ... "It was very intense out there. You know Michigan never quits, but our defense never quits either. We just went out there and took it one play at a time."
